VanBallegooie's Pair of Tallies Overcome Grizzlies
February 3, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Dustin VanBallegooie scored a game-tying power play goal late in the second period before notching the game-winner early in the third to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 5-3 victory over the Utah Grizzlies at the E Center.
Utah bolted out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Kris Kasper finished an odd-man rush by beating Fresno goaltender Jamie Holden with a wrist shot at 4:55. Barret Ehgoetz then tacked on an additional tally off a scramble in front at 8:06. The Grizzlies had chances to extend their lead with several power play opportunities, including a major power play straddling the first and second periods, but the Falcons' penalty kill stiffened and kept the team within two.
J.F. Plourde began the comeback with his 17th of the season at 4:30 of the second. Shawn Mather then tied the game at two when he raced up the right wing around the Utah defense and out-deked goaltender Justin Eddy for his 17th at 9:50. The Grizzlies forged back in front at 13:54 of the middle period. Garett Cameron fed in a rebound after Holden denied ECHL all-time leading scorer Louis Dumont right on the doorstep. But VanBallegooie rescued a less-than-stellar Fresno power play effort with a heavy blast from just inside the blue line that blazed past Eddy at 16:29, sending the game to the third tied at three.
The second-year All-Star took a different approach on the game-winner. With the puck at the right point, he just floated one into traffic that somehow found its way into the back of the net, giving Fresno its first lead of the evening, 4-3, at 5:43 of the third. Mather added an empty-netter at 19:49 after Utah created good pressure with the goaltender pulled for the final margin.
Mather finished the game with two goals and an assist and All-Star MVP Luke Curtin added to his team-leading point totals by recording four assists on the evening.
The win lifts the Falcons to 25-7-10 on the season with 60 points atop the Pacific Division.
Fresno and Utah square-off again tomorrow as the Falcons conclude their only visit to the E Center this season. The game may be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning at 5:45 p.m. Pacific with the FutureTek Pre-game Show. Fans may also view the game online courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons home page at www.fresnofalcons.com.
The Falcons do not return home until Friday, Feb. 10, when they host the Stockton Thunder at Save Mart Center at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $23. For complete ticket information and an arena map of Save Mart Center, visit www.fresnofalcons.com/singletickets.html, or contact the Falcons front office directly at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).
ECHL Stories from February 3, 2006
- Aaron Foster's two goals lead Thunder offense despite 6-3 loss to Alaska - Stockton Thunder
- Ice Dogs Beat Wranglers Behind McAslan's Five-Point Night - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Fish swim upstream and hit a Wall - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Bonk's Revenge: Shorthanded Goal Lifts Condors Over San Diego - Bakersfield Condors
- Gulls Come Up Short In Bako, Fall 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Lynx filet fish in OT - Augusta Lynx
- Grizz Can't Hang On Versus Fresno - Utah Grizzlies
- Ice Pilots Lose 4-3 to Phoenix - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- VanBallegooie's Pair of Tallies Overcome Grizzlies - Fresno Falcons
- RoadRunners Clip Ice Pilots 4-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Bombers win in a shootout 3-2 - Dayton Bombers
- Everblades stumble against Idaho, fall 5-4 in shootout - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Beat Rays, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Titans fall to Storm, 5-1 - Trenton Devils
- Steelheads Stun Everblades, 5-4, in the Shootout - Idaho Steelheads
- Lynx add help on D with "Cookie" - Augusta Lynx
- Leavitt Named ECHL Rookie of the Month, Aces play tonight at 6:30 AST - Alaska Aces
- Condors Announce Front Office Promotions - Bakersfield Condors
- Aces' Leavitt Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
- Later and Turon Recalled to Toronto Marlies - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Saviano named ECHL Player of the Month - Florida Everblades
- Everblades' Saviano Named CCM TACKS Player Of The Month - ECHL
- Grizzlies Home Tonight, Michaud Back - Utah Grizzlies
- Chiefs "To Pass The Hat" For Local High School Hockey Player Saturday Night - Johnstown Chiefs
- Inferno Sign Veteran Defenseman - Columbia Inferno
- Edwardson Recalled to Portland - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Falcons, Fire Fighters, Police Officers Raising Money - Fresno Falcons
- Aebischer Named Alumnus of the Month - ECHL
- Beauchemin Back to Phantoms - Trenton Devils
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Lojek Reassigned to Everblades from AHL - Florida Everblades
- Phoenix Downs Pensacola to Run Win Streak To Four - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Free Jerseys on Saturday - Charlotte Checkers
- Gwinett Gladiators Game Notes - Atlanta Gladiators
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